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Hi Guys,
My 1999 Corolla VE with 164K miles is giving me more problem. The rack seem to be leaking at the gasket of the rack housing. The pump is leaking a little at the shaft seal. It doesn’t leak enough to lose fluid. The fluid level is still good. I have pictures below of the leak. This car is giving me a headache and my wife is driving it and I want to maintain it myself. My new start Wednesday and I just need some idea of the what to fix first one thing each week. I am a little anal about any leak. My 90 Accord is 22 years old it has zero leak and I like to get this Corolla the same way.
Here’s a list of what I need to do:-The rack housing leak, the gasket part # 44218-06010 need replacing. I was suggested to tighten the 2 bolt around the housing to see if it slow or stop the leak. I don’t like the stop leak stuffs as it’s only temporary,unless some one has good experience with a certain brand.
-Power steering pump. I got a good used pump from the junkyard ready to go.
-Serpentine belt. This one is easy. Will do at the same with the pump.
-Timing chain cover. It’s leaking a little in the front and rear. I might replace the water pump at the same time.
-Timing chain tensioner. I replaced this part less than 15K miles ago and now it’s leaking again. I guess I can just replace the o-ring but I already bought an OEM tensioner ready to go but this time I will use some RTV behind the o-ring. Toyota does not recommend using RTV but those I know didn’t use it got it leaking shortly after.
-Windshield washer reservoir.
-I got to replace a few parts on the suspension as well, like the endlinks and front sway bar bushings. Control arms bushings. What do you guys suggest to use to press those bushings in as I don’t have the money to take to shop for a hydraulic press. I got the lower ball joint service kit with that big C clamp type.
-Engine mounts.
-Though I don’t see the differential box leaking lately but the mechanic said that seals in the differential box need replacing and not the axle seal. The Toyota dealer had no idea what that mechanic was talking about. Either the dealer was dumb or that mechanic has no clue. Does any one has any idea if the differential box has seals inside?
-Brake pads,rotors, and calipers.
Here’s some pictures of the rack leak:
The front of the engine which I think is the timing cover area.
A close up pic
Here’s one by the chain tensioner. Do we have to use Toyota brand? I found one at O’reiley for about $1 more with lifetime warranty. O’reiley Chain Tensioner
Any suggestions on how to tackle these problems would be grateful and which order of importance. I have the Hayne’s manual but it’s not all that clear and useful some times.
Thanks.
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Replies
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Ah, the Value Edition Corolla. Is it a 5 speed or 3 speed automatic? I have noticed that 3 speeds tend to have a shorter life than their 4 and 5 speed brethren…. Something about the higher RPMs…. Anyway, here is my 2 cents…
It seems like your power steering and its components are working well, just a bit of a leak (and none reaching the ground I infer)…. I would definitely put this on the last to do list.. Any car that is this old is bound to get a leak somewhere at sometime, and since it is not going on the ground, I wouldn’t worry about that one too much. The replacement racks are relatively inexpensive for this car (under $200)… and quite frankly, the picture you are showing of the PS rack looks pretty normal considering its age… Now if your boots are full of the red stuff, then get it fixed sooner rather than later…
The timing chain cover…. Really, unless it is dripping and making smoke, I would hold off….
Timing chain tensioner… just replace the O-ring, No need to buy a whole new one. I also do not recommend RTV on the O-ring… If installed properly, you shouldn’t have to replace the O-ring for many thousands of miles…
The Windshield wiper reservoir .. yes, these things go bad… that plastic hardens and chips away like old paint….. I think Dorman makes a reman, but I just get another one from the Junkyard….
Engine mounts… I have no idea why you would want to replace these unless they are bad. The Front is a cake job, the pass side is pretty easy, the driver side a little tougher and the rear mount is a PITA!!!!! Unless cracked or broken, I would leave these alone..
Brakes, Rotor and Caliper… This would be the #1 I would do on your car if they are going bad or are bad…. This saves your life… All the rest is not lifesaving…. Two things I don’t play around with… Brakes and Tires…. If the engine dies you can coast to the side, if a tire blows or your brakes go bad, you can be killed…. JMHO
The big problem with 1.8L on these Gen 8 Corollas are that some are oil burners, that would be my concern if yours is a 3 speed auto (they seem to have the most problem due to the higher RPM)… The oil holes in the piston ring grooves are too small. Many have drilled them larger or added holes to address this issue. I have seen some that have absolutely no engine oil burning problem with 200k…. I really believe a lot about changing the oil regularly (3-6k miles) and you should be able to avoid this problem…
This is the 3 speed auto. I change my oil around 6000 miles. I think it does burn oil a little but not like my old 87 Corolla. No smoke is coming out of the exhaust. I fill it to the max level about a quart every oil change. But since the oil leak never reach the ground, putting in a quart would signifies oil burning rather than due the leak. As for the brakes, the caliper boot is torn on one side but with the new pads I put in, it push the boot in so it won’t expose until the boot are stretched out when the pads worn down. The brakes work well, it works better than my Accord brake, I guess due to the lesser mass of the car. I just don’t like the loud squeak that it makes before the pads and rotors warm up in the morning. Never the less, I want to get this car to a lesser worry point as my Accord. Maybe I am just too paranoid. I have seen cars way worse and still drives ok. I just hate leaks. And the windshield fluid reservoir, I got a new one with a new pump for $38. I could almost never find one of these Corollas at the junkyard, but when I do, they are all stripped or the reservoir is cracked.
To replace the fluid reservoir, do I need to remove the under splash guard? It does not look like I have to for this car. Just one bolt on top and slide out and disconnect the pump.
Thanks for your detail response.[quote=”ToyotaKarl” post=55920]Ah, the Value Edition Corolla. Is it a 5 speed or 3 speed automatic? I have noticed that 3 speeds tend to have a shorter life than their 4 and 5 speed brethren…. Something about the higher RPMs…. Anyway, here is my 2 cents…
It seems like your power steering and its components are working well, just a bit of a leak (and none reaching the ground I infer)…. I would definitely put this on the last to do list.. Any car that is this old is bound to get a leak somewhere at sometime, and since it is not going on the ground, I wouldn’t worry about that one too much. The replacement racks are relatively inexpensive for this car (under $200)… and quite frankly, the picture you are showing of the PS rack looks pretty normal considering its age… Now if your boots are full of the red stuff, then get it fixed sooner rather than later…
The timing chain cover…. Really, unless it is dripping and making smoke, I would hold off….
Timing chain tensioner… just replace the O-ring, No need to buy a whole new one. I also do not recommend RTV on the O-ring… If installed properly, you shouldn’t have to replace the O-ring for many thousands of miles…
The Windshield wiper reservoir .. yes, these things go bad… that plastic hardens and chips away like old paint….. I think Dorman makes a reman, but I just get another one from the Junkyard….
Engine mounts… I have no idea why you would want to replace these unless they are bad. The Front is a cake job, the pass side is pretty easy, the driver side a little tougher and the rear mount is a PITA!!!!! Unless cracked or broken, I would leave these alone..
Brakes, Rotor and Caliper… This would be the #1 I would do on your car if they are going bad or are bad…. This saves your life… All the rest is not lifesaving…. Two things I don’t play around with… Brakes and Tires…. If the engine dies you can coast to the side, if a tire blows or your brakes go bad, you can be killed…. JMHO
The big problem with 1.8L on these Gen 8 Corollas are that some are oil burners, that would be my concern if yours is a 3 speed auto (they seem to have the most problem due to the higher RPM)… The oil holes in the piston ring grooves are too small. Many have drilled them larger or added holes to address this issue. I have seen some that have absolutely no engine oil burning problem with 200k…. I really believe a lot about changing the oil regularly (3-6k miles) and you should be able to avoid this problem…[/quote]
You can pull out the reservoir from the top. Just undo the bolt and pop/lift it out… Takes about 20 seconds IIRC…
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